It's hard not to look back on BYU's Sweet Sixteen game and imagine how different things would have been with just a few different lucky breaks during the year (as in: what if Brandon Davies and Chris Collinsworth were still able to play?). What's amazing though is that BYU was still able to make the sweet sixteen without them. Usually, losing two of your best big men dooms your team. Not BYU.
But now we move on. . .without Jimmer Fredette, Jackson Emery, and Logan Magnusson (and Kyle Collinsworth for two years). Some people think we are going to suck without The Jimmer. Not me.
We're going to be good next year (top 25 good). We'll make the NCAA tournament. And we'll win games (yes, plural, more than one) there. That's my call, take it to the bank.
BYU has some good players coming in next year, who may not be able to equal the production of Jimmer and Jackson, but as a team we'll be just as strong. Our incoming freshman, DeMarcus Harrison, looks like a legit, athletic guard. He has a better shot than Kyle Collinsworth, and is just as athletic, if not more-so. Anson Winder, who reshirted this year, is also quick and athletic and he has the benefit of a year in the program. Last of all, UCLA transfer Matt Carlino, will replace The Jimmer at point guard in December (once NCAA transfer rules are met). He won't be Jimmer, but I believe he'll be much more dangerous than Nick Martineau. In short, I think BYU as a team will actually be faster and more athletic next year. And we'll have our front-court back.
So here's my wish list for the basketball team next year.
1) Stephen Rogers needs to hit the weight room and put on about 30 pounds of muscle. This will help him develop a legit back-to-the-basket game, as well as making him quicker when driving to the hoop. He would be a super dangerous player with those added dimensions to his game; a match-up nightmare.
2) Charles Abouo needs to step up consistently. I love his game when he brings it, but he seems to be really streaky. I'd like to see him average double digits next year (15 would be nice). It is time for him to be a leader and a constant threat on the floor. His defense is awesome.
3) Chris Collinsworth needs to get mission rust out of his system and stay healthy.
4) James Anderson could use some weight room time as well. He's a tall guy, and he's had some success on defense. Let's make him a scoring threat as well. And, he needs more fire.
5) I'd really love for both DeMarcus Harrison and Anson Winder to come in and average double digits as well. One of them will have to play off the bench, which would actually be really good for us. We didn't have a consistent off-the-bench scoring threat this year.
Here's what our starting line-up should look like next year:
PG-Matt Carlino
SG-Anson Winder (or Harrison, but I'm betting on Winder because of experience).
SF-Charles Abouo
PF-Noah Hartsock
C-Brandon Davies (who will come back. If he doesn't the BYU student body should overthrow the Honor Code office).
Anyway, I'm already excited for next year. Go Cougs!
Here's a DeMarcus Harrison highlight video:
And here's Anson Winder dunking a lot (he can shoot the 3 too):
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